The 10th Nordic Conference for Rhetorical Research invites scholars to explore how rhetorical studies can be placed in the service of democracy.
Time and place:  – , University of Oslo
Call for papers
NOTE! *The call for papers is now closed*
With the theme rhetoric and democracy revisited, the organizers of NKRF10 invite participants to engage with our current historical moment and the ways in which rhetoric as a field understands democracy both as an idea and as an outcome of rhetorical praxis.
Venue
The conference will take place at University of Oslo’s campus at Blindern, mainly in the building Sophus Bugges hus.
Timeline
- Abstract submission opens: 16th October 2025
- Abstract submission closes: 12th January 2026
- Notification about acceptance: January 2026
- Registration opens: March 2026
- Registration closes: May 2026
- Conference dates: 10th – 12th June 2026
Key notes
Key note speeches will be given by the following distinguished scholars:
Ekaterina Haskins, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State
Christina Matthiesen, Professor of Rhetoric, Lund University
Tentative Program
Below is a tentative «bare bones» program, for your planning purposes. A proper draft program, with detailed information about each parallel session, etc., will follow in mid April.
Tuesday 9 June
18:00-19:30 – Reception, Oslo City Hall
Wednesday 10 June
09:30-17:00 – Key note lecture, parallel and plenary sessions
19:00 – Evening Event // Get-together, venue TBA
Thursday 11 June
09:30 – 17:00, Key note lecture, parallel and plenary sessions
19:00 – Conference Dinner, venue TBA
Friday 12 June
09:30-16:00 – Key note lecture, parallel and plenary sessions
16:00-16:30 – Closing
Registration
Registration is now open! Register here.
PhD Course
A PhD course will be organized in the two days preceding the actual conference, i.e. 8th – 9th June. The course has separate deadlines. For more information, see the course page.
Nordic Rhetoric Association
The Nordic Conference for Rhetorical Research is administered by the Nordic Rhetoric Association (nordiskretorikk.no), which delegates responsibility for organizing each conference to a specific institution of higher education in the Nordics.
We encourage everyone to become a member of the association.
Practical Information
The conference will be held at the University of Oslo campus at Blindern. The campus area is at a certain distance from downtown Oslo, where most of the relevant accommodation is located, but there is ample public transport, which will take you comfortably from the city to the university and back.
Getting to Oslo city centre from Oslo Airport Gardermoen
By far the easiest way to get to Oslo city centre is by train, either Flytoget (Airport Express) or Vy (local train). Travel time is typically between 19 and 25 minutes, depending on various factors. The former is faster and more comfortable; the latter is significantly cheaper. Depending on your hotel, most of you will want to get off either at Oslo S (Central Station) or Nationaltheatret (the National Theatre).
Accommodation
There is no official conference hotel, though discount codes will be available shortly for a small number of conveniently placed hotels:
In the Majorstua District; fairly busy shopping area, with plenty of cafés, etc. Travel to campus by tram/foot, then metro – or simply walk, which will take about 30 minutes. Discount code: THC2964.
At St Olavs plass, a small square in the periphery of the Palace Park; close to the event venue Litteraturhuset (House of Literature), etc.; approx. 15 minutes tram ride to campus.
Located at a small square adjacent to the Palace Park; conveniently close to tram line that runs straight to Blindern campus, approx. 11 minutes to campus.
On Jernbanetorget, the large area adjacent to the central station; busy area, somewhat further from campus than the above, but close to all public transport, e.g. 8 minutes to campus by metro; nearby the Opera House, the Munch museum, and the Bjørvika district.
A budget option, where you can choose between shared or private rooms. At Rodeløkka, in turn close to Grünerløkka, a vibrant area, though with a slightly longer route to campus, either by bus + tram or bus + metro.
Public Transport
All public transport within Oslo is organized by the transport company Ruter. We recommend downloading their app to plan your travel and get tickets. Single tickets are 146 kroner, the 24-hour pass is 137 kroner, whereas a 7-day pass is 379 kroner. See Ruter’s web pages for more information.
Organizing Committee
The organizing committee for NKRF10 is comprised of scholars from three different departments at the University of Oslo: Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, Department of Media and Communication and Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas. These departments are also co-funders of the conference.
- Kristian Bjørkdahl
- Merete Pettersen
- Truls Strand Offerdal
- Øyvind Ihlen
- Tor Ivar Østmoe
- Fredrik Eugen Christiansen
Contact
To contact the organizers, get in touch with Kristian Bjørkdahl.
